Anyone know how long it takes for bute to work?

[calekio]

As above really..
Need to dose a pony up so she is hopefully more comfortable for the farrier.. will be given bute day before and day off the farrier but i wanted to give her a dose just before farrier comes so its well in her system... but not sure how long it takes to work? Hour? Two?

[jill]

Bute? Why? Are you sure you don't mean Sedalin?
Bute starts to work as soon as it is in the blood stream but as an anti inflamatory/pain relief it has a progressive action. That is why you start with a loading dose and reduce it after a couple of days - it has a cumulative effect.
Sedalin is a relatively mild sedative and can take about an hour I think - someone will correct me if I am wrong, haven't used it for years.

MTA - bute is prescription only so must have come from a vet - he would be the best person to advise, knowing the size and weight of the pony.

[june]

I'd give one a couple of hours before the farrier is due but as Jill says, it has a cumulative effect and builds up in the system so your plan of the day before or even better, a couple of days before, is sensible.

[curlytobiano]

Hi. With my horse when his arthritis was bad the farrier advised one the night before, and one the morning of, shoeing. Best to check with the vet as my horse is probably 5 times the size of yours! :-)

[calekio]

Lol sorry yes should of said more.. Yes ment bute.. She finds shoeing uncomfortable so vet said can give bute day before and day off shoeing.. But though be good to give her some just before farrier so well in her system.. But forgot to ask vet about time.. Or would it not make much help to give her some just before if she's had 3 or 4 doses before hand..

[curlytobiano]

mine would have had one with his feed at 8 or 9 and the farrier at 10 or 11. I'd have thought allow an hour before but you are probably fine for a whole morning at least.

[calekio]

Thanks. farrier is coming at 12.30..breakfast is normally served around 7.30-8am though so that is a long gap... i'm praying loaded with bute we can get these shoes done without a rearing pony! (or me being hit in the leg with a flying shoe again!)

[jill]

TBH if shoeing is that painful I would be rethinking the whole shoeing issue - why shoe, what is the underlying reason, how much discomfort or pain is there beween farrier visits, and whether she has a good quality of life or needs more in the way of treatment or physio etc. If she is that sore is she working and if not, what is the reason for shoes. I'm sure you have thought this through but it does sound pretty extreme to be dosing her up with bute to get shoes on her.

[calekio]

She has front shoes on due to laminitis... we put shoes on as last resport... as she kept going downhill, very sore and vet thought getting her off the floor so to speak would help... i was not sure.. farrier wasn't sure.. but couldn't not do anything as she was currently looking as a poor, painful future.
The shoes however have been the best thing going.. she is back out in the field, comfortable and walking well, even going for little walks out in hand (she is retired now) she hasn't had any problems since the shoes went on 3-4 months ago.. but she doesn't like the banging.. first time shod she wasn't brilliant.. but wasn't as bad as second time shoeing.. only different really being first time she was still buted up.. second time she'd had none... so.. see if buting her up make her more comfortable to be shod... if not... will have to have re-think and talk to vet/farrier as vet wants her now shod for as long as we can...